`Prima Gattie` peach tree

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach Prunus persica, tree substantially as illustrated and described which produces large fruit which are mature for commercial harvesting and shipment approximately September 2 to September 19 in the San Joaquin Valley of central California and somewhat remotely similar to the fruit of the &#34;Carnival&#34; peach tree, but distinguished therefrom in numerous respects including that they are a semi-clingstone fruit with an improved blush coloration and a sweeter, more pleasant flavor when compared with the fruit of the &#34;Carnival&#34; peach tree.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peachtree, which will hereinafter be denominated varietally as "Prima Gattie"peach tree, and, more particularly, to a peach tree which producessemi-clingstone fruit, which are mature for commercial harvesting andshipment approximately September 2 to September 19 in the San JoaquinValley of central California.

Commercially acceptable fruit is abundant in the case of many varietiesof fruit trees. This is particularly true of peach trees. The plentifulquantities of such commercially acceptable fruit result in there being asubstantial market for such fruit throughout most of a comparativelylong growing season.

However, commercially acceptable fruit is relatively rare at theinitiation and termination of the growing season. Most such early orlate ripening peach varieties produce fruit which is only marginallyacceptable on a commercial basis in that it is small in size, orpossesses poor skin coloration, or lacks desirable flavor, or has poorhandling characteristics, or any combination of these and other negativecharacteristics. Accordingly, new peach varieties producing fruit whichripens early or late in the season, but which possesses characteristicsmore typical of fruit ripening more nearly at the height of the growingseason are of significant commercial value. The new variety of peachtree of the present invention appears to be such a variety, as willhereinafter be set forth in greater detail.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The variety was discovered as a seedling by the inventor in September,1986 near Sanger in the San Joaquin Valley of central California. Thenew variety was asexually reproduced by grafting wood of the new varietyon Nemaguard peach rootstock. The new variety was asexually reproducedin February, 1987 under the direction of the inventor near Kerman in theSan Joaquin Valley of central California. The inventor has continued toobserve the asexually reproduced peach trees of the new variety and hasconfirmed that they are identical in all respects to the parent.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The "Prima Gattie" peach tree is characterized by producing a large,high quality, semi-clingstone fruit which have superior externalcoloration and are ripe for commercial harvesting and shipmentapproximately September 2 to September 19 in the San Joaquin Valley ofcentral California. The new variety is most closely similar to the"Carnival" peach tree, which produces fruit ripening at a similar timein the growing season. However, the fruit of the instant variety isdistinguishable from the fruit of the "Carnival" peach tree in that thenew variety are semi-clingstone fruit, while that of the "Carnival"peach tree is freestone. The flavor of the new variety is substantiallyimproved over that of the "Carnival" peach tree, remaining sweet andpleasant even in heavy crop production. In addition, the coloration ofthe fruit of the new variety is greatly improved over that of the"Carnival" peach tree, developing from thirty percent (30%) to eightypercent (80%) red blush in both a washed and striped to dappled pattern,while in the case of the fruit of the "Carnival" peach tree, the redblush coloration extends only over from ten percent (10%) to fortypercent (40%) of the fruit surface under normal growing conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph showing mature fruit ofthe new variety including a first in top plan view showing the basethereof; a second in side elevation showing the suture thereof; a thirdin bottom plan view showing the apex thereof; a fourth sectioned andlaid open to show the flesh and the stone cavity thereof; a fifth inside elevation; and a stone and foliage typical of the new variety ofpeach tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observed underthe ecological conditions prevailing at the orchard of origin which islocated in Western Fresno, County near the town of Rolinda. All majorcolor code designations are by reference to the Dictionary of Color, byMaerz and Paul, First Edition, 1930. Common color names are alsooccasionally employed.

TREE

Generally: Eventual tree form and density are determined by the trainingsystem used in the orchard. The subject orchard has been trained usingthe standard "open vase" system. The test orchard was propagated in 1989on peach rootstock, and is in fifth leaf. From 90 cm (3.0 feet) to 135cm (4.5 feet) of new growth is now occurring in the tops of the treeseach year.

Size.--Variable. Ranges from 330 cm (11 feet) to 390 cm (13 feet) inheight and from 360 cm (12 feet) to 420 cm (14 feet) in width.

Vigor.--Vigorous and hardy.

Figure.--Upright to upright-spreading in form.

Productivity.--Productive.

Regularity of bearing.--Regular under typical central San Joaquin Valleyclimatic conditions.

Trunk:

Size.--Average in thickness from 12.1 cm (4.764 inches) to 17.4 cm(6.850 inches) in diameter.

Surface texture.--Rough in bark texture. The bark surface is moderatelyscaly with a moderate amount of scarfskin present.

Color.--Grey-brown (7-A-9).

Lenticels.--Numerous bark lenticels are present, medium in size and ovalin form. Length -- 3.5 mm (0.138 inches) to 10.0 mm (0.398 inches).Height -- 1.5 mm (0.059 inches) to 2.0 mm (0.079 inches).

Branches:

Size.--Average in thickness.

Surface texture.--Moderately rough.

Color-- Two year or older wood.--Medium brown (7-A-11 Van Dyke Brown).Slightly striated. Color-- immature branches.--Pale green (19-K-6 SeaGreen). Many shoots exposed to direct sunlight have a red-rosepigmentation present on the exposed side (7-J-8 Domingo Red). Color ofthe new shoot tip is a bright green-yellow (19-L-6 Calliste Green).

Internode.--Length -- On bearing hanger shoots is normal, ranging from22 mm (0.866 inches) to 30 mm (1.181 inches) between nodes as measuredat mid-stem on current season's growth.

LEAVES

Size:

Generally.--Medium to large. Leaf measurements are from large leavesgrowing near midpoint of actively growing upright current season'sshoots.

Average length.--19.8 cm (7.795 inches) to 22.1 cm (8.701 inches)including the leaf petiole.

Average width.--4.7 cm (1.850 inches) to (2.165 inches).

Leaf thickness: Normal.

Form: Lanceolate with acuminate tip. Leaf apices often are slightlytwisted sideways and reflexed downwards.

Color:

Upwardly disposed surface.--Dark green (24-L-4).

Downwardly disposed surface.--Lighter grey-green (22-J-5 Leek Green).

Marginal form:

Generally.--Crenate, with broad, low, regular crenations.

Leaf margin -- Moderately undulate.

Glandular characteristics: Glands are medium to large in size. Glandform is generally reniform. On the leaf blade gland number is variable,from 1 to 4 present on the base of the leaf blade. Glands present on theblade are always reniform. From 2 to 4 additional reniform glands arepresent on the petiole or right at the petiolar junction with the basalleaf margin. The glands are alternate in position.

Leaf gland color: Bright shiny green-yellow when young (19-L-2 JavelGreen), becoming dark and deteriorating with age.

Petiole:

Size.--Relatively large.

Length.--13 mm (0.512 inches) to 16 mm (0.630 inches).

Thickness.--2.0 mm (0.079 inches).

Color.--Pale green (20-J-2) with a darker green coloration within thepetiole groove (20-K-6 Piquant Green).

Stipules: Moderately long. The stipules are present primarily on everynew shoot growth and are early deciduous.

Length.--8 mm (0.315 inches) to 10 mm (0.394 inches).

Form.--Linear lanceolate with serrate margins.

Color.--Bright green-yellow (18-K-6) becoming darker with age andrapidly deteriorating.

FLOWERS

Flower buds: Dormant flower buds are average in size and conic in form.Bud scale coloration is grey (55-A-2 Lead Grey). The buds are slightlyappressed to the bearing stem. The bud scale surfaces are very pubescentwith a dense grey colored pubescence. The buds are hardy under typicalcentral San Joaquin Valley climatic conditions.

Date of bloom: The bloom of the new variety is slightly late in relationother commercial peach cultivars commonly grown in the central SanJoaquin Valley region. Date of first bloom was February 27 in 1992, anddate of full bloom was March 4 in 1992.

Bloom Quantity: Abundant. Flower number per node varies from 1 to 2 onfruitful hanger shoots.

Size:

Generally.--Medium to slightly below average in the middle range of thistype of non-showy flower. Flower diameter fully expanded ranges from 20mm (0.787 inches) to 24 mm (0.945 inches). The flower remains slightlycupped inward even when fully mature.

Petals:

Size.--Medium to small.

Length.--12 mm (0.472 inches) to 13 mm (0.519 inches).

Width.--8 mm (0.315 inches) to 10 mm (0.394 inches).

Form.--Variable but most frequently oval with petal margins usuallyrolled upwards.

Number.--Five.

Color.--Young petals are light pink (1-C-1) on the petal interior, adarker pink (1G-1) along the petal margins, and nearly white (1-A-1) onthe petal claw. As the petal matures, the margins become a darker dullpink-rose (1-F-2) and the claw becomes a deep rose (1-F-5). The interiorarea of the petal also darkens to a medium pink (1-D-2).

Claw form.--Narrow and truncate in form, averaging 1 mm (0.039 inches)in length.

Margins.--Very undulate.

Apex.--The petal apices are variable in form, but are generally roundedand usually substantially undulate.

Flower pedicel:

Size.--Medium, ranging from 2 mm (0.079 inches) to 3 mm (0.118 inches)in length.

Thickness.--1.0 mm (0.039 inches).

Color.--Bright shiny green (17-K-6).

Surface.--Glabrous.

Nectaries:

Color.--Young nectaries are bright orange (11-I-12), darkening andbecoming somewhat dull with age.

Anthers:

Size.--Medium to large.

Color.--Light yellow (10J-4 Primrose Yellow) both ventrally anddorsally.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Polllen:

Color.--Yellow (10-L-4 Light Chrome Yellow).

Stamens:

Length.--Moderately long ranging from 12 mm (0.472 inches) to 15 mm(0.590 inches). Stamen length is variable in relation to the pistil, attimes shorter, at other times about equal.

Filament:

Color.--White (1-A-1) when young, turning to a deep rose (1-I-4 CasinoPink) with maturity.

Pistil:

Length.--Variable, ranging from 15 mm (0.590 inches) to 18 mm (0.709inches), including the ovary.

Color.--Light yellow (11-K-1 Acacia Yellow).

Surface.--Highly pubescent.

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Firm ripe condition typical of full commercialmaturity. In 1992, the first pick was on September 2 and the last pickon September 19 near Rolinda of the San Joaquin Valley of centralCalifornia.

Size:

Generally.--Large and uniform.

Average diameter in the check plane.--73 mm (2.984 inches) to 80 mm(3.150 inches).

Average diameter transverse in the suture plane.--71 mm (2.795 inches)to 78 mm (3.071 inches).

Average diameter in the axial plane.--72 mm (2.835 inches) to 78 mm(3.071 inches).

Form:

Symmetry.--Usually asymmetrical with one fruit half larger than theother.

Lateral.--Variable, from ovate to nearly oval.

Apical.--Somewhat variable, usually globose, but at times with anelongated ventral suture area.

Suture:

Generally.--Relatively shallow, inconspicuous line extending from baseto apex, somewhat deeper within the stem cavity basin. The suture has nodistinctive coloration of its own, but takes on the coloration of theunderlying blush or ground color.

Ventral surface:

Generally.--Slightly irregular, often with a slightly raised ventralsurface, lipped on one side.

Stem cavity:

Generally.--Small to medium in size. The shoulders of the cavity areoften creased with a groove where the fruit was attached to the bearingbranch.

Width.--26 mm (1.024 inches) to 31 mm (1.220 inches).

Depth.--14 mm (0.551 inches) to 18 mm (0.709 inches).

Length.--29 mm (1.142 inches) to 35 mm (1.378 inches).

Shape.--Oval.

Stem:

Length.--Varies from 11 mm (0.433 inches) to 13 mm (0.512 inches).

Thickness.--3.0 mm (0.118 inches) to 3.5 mm (0.138 inches).

Color.--Light olive green (13-L-2).

Base:

Form.--Moderately truncate.

Angle.--Moderately to strongly oblique to the fruit axis.

Apex:

Shape.--Generally rounded with a slightly raised tip. A markeddepression is present on both the ventral and dorsal side of the apex.

Pistil point:

Position.--Most frequently apical.

Skin:

Thickness.--Average. Skin is tenacious to the flesh at commercialmaturity.

Texture.--Surface is pubescent with a medium textured, short pubescence.

Skin flavor.--Relatively neutral.

Tendency to crack.--No tendency to crack or split has been observed.

Color.--Generally -- Skin color is a somewhat uneven, but attractive,combination of red blush color and yellow ground color. Blush colorcovers from thirty percent (30%) to as much as eighty percent (80%) ofthe fruit surface, with exterior and exposed fruit in the highest colorranges. Blush form varies from a washed pattern to light striping anddappled areas. Ground color covers from twenty percent (20%) to seventypercent (70%) of the fruit surface with the most interior fruit on thetree in the highest ground color ranges.

Blush color.--Intensity varies from a dark red (6-L-11 Egyptian Red) toa lighter orange-red (4-I-12 Nasturtium Red).

Ground color.--Light gold-yellow (10-K-5).

Flesh:

Flesh color.--Somewhat variable. Generally, light yellow (10-K-2) fromunder the skin inward for 10 mm (0.394 inches) to 14 mm (0.551 inches).Numerous light colored fibers are present within the flesh.

Color of Stone Cavity.--Red (5-L-10 Chimney Red) with red streaks andflecking extending outward from the cavity 10 mm (0.394 inches) to 16 mm(0.630 inches) into the flesh.

Juice production.--Becomes juicy with afterripening.

Flavor.--Sweet with moderate acidity and well balanced.

Aroma.--Slight and pleasant.

Flesh Texture.--Very firm and fine textured.

Ripening.--Evenly throughout.

Eating quality.--Good.

Stone:

Attachment.--Clingstone to semi-clingstone. The stone is held tightlywithin the cavity at commercial maturity, but will break loose from theflesh as the fruit fully ripens and softens. The stone surface isgenerally covered over the full surface with short fibers and smallpieces of adhering flesh.

Fibers.--Numbers -- Numerous are attached over the entire stone surface.Length -- Short.

Size.--Generally -- Medium. Length -- 33 mm (1.299 inches) to 36 mm(1.417 inches). Width -- 24.5 mm (0.964 inches) to 25.5 mm (1.004inches). Thickness -- 17.0 mm (0.669 inches) to 18.5 mm (0.728 inches).

Form.--Generally -- Usually oval.

Apex.--Shape -- Relatively variable, most frequently acute.

Color.--Wet -- Heavily stained with a dark maroon coloration (7-L-3Anatolia Red). Dry -- Light brown (14-A-10 Leather Brown) to a darkerbrown-maroon (7-J-8 Domingo Brown). Substantial reddish-maroon stainingis present on most stones.

Base.--Shape -- Truncate. The base angle is usually oblique to the stoneaxis.

Sides.--Generally -- Usually unequal.

Surface.--Moderately roughened laterally, substantially grooved over theapical shoulder area. Shallow grooves are present basally, convergingbasally.

Ventral edge--Width -- Medium. 3.5 mm (0.138 inches) to 4.5 mm (0.177inches) at mid-suture.

Wings.--Several low coalesced wings are present, at times slightly moreprominent basally.

Dorsal edge.--A shallow, often discontinuous groove is present basally,less distinct over the apical shoulder. The dorsal groove is bordered bytwo low ridges which are at times cross cut by several grooves. Theapical shoulder is slightly eroded near the stone apex.

Hilum.--Medium to large in size, with a thick, substantially toughenedand grooved collar. Collar -- The collar ranges from 2 mm (0.079 inches)to 4 mm (0.157 inches). Form -- Oval.

Tendency to split.--No tendency to split has been observed.

Use: Fresh market.

Keeping quality: Excellent.

Shipping and handling qualities: Excellent.

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the describedcharacteristics noted above as a result of the growing conditionsprevailing near Rolinda in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley ofCalifornia, it is to be understood that variations of the usualmagnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions,irrigation, fertilization, pruning, pest control, climatic variation andthe like are to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of peach tree, whatI claim as new and desire to be secured by Plant Letters Patent is:
 1. Anew and distinct variety of peach tree substantially as illustrated anddescribed which produces fruit which are mature for commercialharvesting and shipment approximately September 2 to September 19 in theSan Joaquin Valley of central California and which are somewhat remotelysimilar to the fruit of the "Carnival" peach tree, but distinguishedtherefrom in several respects including that they are a semi-clingstonefruit with an improved blush coloration and a sweeter, more pleasantflavor when compared with the fruit of the "Carnival" peach tree.